By Omotayo Edubi
An NGO, The Foundation for a Better Environment has coloured a community with Christmas trees made from PET-bottles to pitiable Communities as part of efforts to promote environmental sustainability in Lagos state.
The Founder of the Non-governmental Organisation, Mrs Temitope Okunnu, said this in Lagos State.
He mentioned that the input is the group’s contribution to make Christmas significant for people who don’t have.
“The idea behind creating Christmas trees from pet bottles is to get people celebrate a sustainable yuletide.
“We want to show people that they can be sustainable with plastic. We want them to see that pet bottles can go beyond recycling and upcycling.
“With all that the country is going through, we decided to light up Lagos state by setting up the plastic bottle Christmas trees at strategic areas of the state.
“We want Lagos residents to be happy and be part of the festive season just seeing the lighted trees,” Okunnu said.
She said the trees were placed in position to tactically reach out to people who could not afford regular Christmas tree in their homes.
“We want people to know that they can live sustainably even with things that are destined for the dumpsites.
“With the green bottle Christmas trees, it is another opportunity for us to tell people that we can practice sustainable lifestyle by innovation.
“Our tree were made with plastic bottles and used tyres which we strategically positioned at low-income areas in Lagos.
“We know children in low income areas may not be able to afford regular Christmas trees at home so that is our way of giving back.
“We position them in gardens and parks in these areas. Like the JJC park, LAWMA garden at Ijora, Allen Avenue and at the Lagos State Secretariat because of the influx of people around these areas,” Okunnu said.
She called for more recycling and upcycling activities, adding that no plastic should end in the waterways or dumpsites.
“Apart from all upcycled product that we have shown people that they can be sustainable with, we want them to know we can use pet bottles for other aesthetic benefits.
“We want Nigerians to see that their pet bottles are not a waste, we can make eco- trees from the bottles.
“We do not want these bottles to end up into the seas and waterways, and increasing the pollution rate. Hence this intervention from us at yuletide,” Okunnu said.